Indian origin players may be, but the condition differ vastly

Foreign origin players in national teams are not uncommon but a high point has been observed in the ongoing Junior World Cup in Lucknow.

The Canada team that played so well against India the other day has as many as 13 Indian origin players in its side, mostly from the States of Goa and Punjab.

May be for some the contest might have seemed between two domestic Indian outfits in the All India Grade I tournament, and this is not exaggeration.

However, the commonality stops here.

In all other respects, conditions vary and even represent two extremes.

While the home team is considered medal contenders, Canada is an underdog. Players from Indian team are the most experienced in terms of international exposure and kind of competitions they figure including Hockey India League.

Canada is poor in terms of international exposure and experience

Canadian coach Inderpal Sehmbi and captain Brandon Pereira today revealed that they don’t get any serious funding to prepare and send national teams to India for the Junior World Cup.

The players and their families cut their pockets to be here.

Besides sporting spirit, deep passion for the sport, family connect, and chance to wear nation’s colour help these youngsters to dig deep into their pockets.

Captain Brandon Pereira come from hockey playing back ground. His father was a hockey player and coached Inderpal Sehmbi.

Its worthwhile to mention here that his grandfather Polly Pereira played with this writer in the 1972 Olympics.